Although the Selkirk Museum, mentioned in the previous post, was very short-lived, it's remarkable that relics from Alexander Selkirk's time on the island of Juan Fernandez still exist today. The wooden sea chest, for example, that went on that famous early 18th century adventure with him, remaining with him during his four years and four months exile, before returning back home with him, is held by the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. A coconut shell cup is another surviving artefact, also held by the NMS. Sadly, neither of these items are currently on public display but rather are kept in storage - awaiting a request to perhaps be part of a temporary exhibition some time in the future.
These two articles - the sea chest and cup - had remained in Largo, in the possession of the family from before Selkirk's death in 1721 until the death of his great-grand-niece, Catherine Selkirk Gillies, early in 1862. She had occupied the cottage in which Alexander had been born and had "guarded most religiously his cup and chest" according to the North London news of 22 February 1862. The article continued that...
"Many visitors had been welcomed to that curious, antique-looking thatched house by its kind old inmate, and had been permitted to drink what pleased them out of the small silver-mounted cocoa nutshell - to pass their hands over the cunning joinings of the "auld cedar kist" - to feel the weight of its heavy rounded lid - and to examine the initials and rude carvings of the lonely exile."
The cup had apparently caught the interest of Sir Walter Scott and his publisher Archibald Constable (who had arranged for a rosewood stand and silver rim to be put on the simple cup around 1820). Katherine Gillies was a fisherman's wife, mother of thirteen and reportedly had around one hundred grandchildren and great-grandchildren at the time of her death at the age of 83. Her death triggered the disposal of the "Crusoe relics" from the family.
These two articles - the sea chest and cup - had remained in Largo, in the possession of the family from before Selkirk's death in 1721 until the death of his great-grand-niece, Catherine Selkirk Gillies, early in 1862. She had occupied the cottage in which Alexander had been born and had "guarded most religiously his cup and chest" according to the North London news of 22 February 1862. The article continued that...
"Many visitors had been welcomed to that curious, antique-looking thatched house by its kind old inmate, and had been permitted to drink what pleased them out of the small silver-mounted cocoa nutshell - to pass their hands over the cunning joinings of the "auld cedar kist" - to feel the weight of its heavy rounded lid - and to examine the initials and rude carvings of the lonely exile."
The cup had apparently caught the interest of Sir Walter Scott and his publisher Archibald Constable (who had arranged for a rosewood stand and silver rim to be put on the simple cup around 1820). Katherine Gillies was a fisherman's wife, mother of thirteen and reportedly had around one hundred grandchildren and great-grandchildren at the time of her death at the age of 83. Her death triggered the disposal of the "Crusoe relics" from the family.
The sea chest and the cup became the property of a Mr James Hutchison of London. According to various newspaper reports of late 1863 and early 1864, his intention was to exhibit the items in London. This venture must have been short-lived as in 1870 the two articles were donated to the Museum of Antiquaries of Scotland by linen manufacturer Sir David Baxter of Kilmaron Castle near Cupar. Apparently, the previous year, the items had come up at auction and Sir David had purchased them with the express intention to donate them to the museum. The description of the sea chest given at the time of the donation was "a substantially made chest of teak, 3 feet in length, by about 18 inches in breadth and the same in depth. The lid is slightly arched above, and closes with an iron tongue or hasp, which comes nearly halfway down the front of the chest, and is there secured by an iron-faced lock". The cup was described as "formed of a small cocoa nut, 31/2 inches in depth inside, is ornamented on the outside with a zig-zag pattern. A depressed border runs around the rim in two divisions."
Of course there were other items associated with Selkirk. Much detail on the subject is provided with the book "The Man Who Was Robinson Crusoe" by Rick Wilson - particularly in respect of guns which Selkirk may have owned. In 1959, a small feature appeared in the 27 July Leven Mail under the headline "The Fate of Crusoe's Relics". This repeated some of the information already given above but also touched upon some lesser known items. The image below shows a Mr William Eadie with some relics that he had collected while writing a book about Selkirk. These included an old cradle belonging to the Selkirk family, spinning wheel bobbins found in the roof of the original cottage, and a book entitled "Thoughts of Heaven, Our Home Above" - copies of which had been presented by Lord and Lady Aberdeen to every guest at the 11 December 1885 unveiling of the Selkirk statue.
Of course there were other items associated with Selkirk. Much detail on the subject is provided with the book "The Man Who Was Robinson Crusoe" by Rick Wilson - particularly in respect of guns which Selkirk may have owned. In 1959, a small feature appeared in the 27 July Leven Mail under the headline "The Fate of Crusoe's Relics". This repeated some of the information already given above but also touched upon some lesser known items. The image below shows a Mr William Eadie with some relics that he had collected while writing a book about Selkirk. These included an old cradle belonging to the Selkirk family, spinning wheel bobbins found in the roof of the original cottage, and a book entitled "Thoughts of Heaven, Our Home Above" - copies of which had been presented by Lord and Lady Aberdeen to every guest at the 11 December 1885 unveiling of the Selkirk statue.
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